Seminal alt-country band The Jayhawks are back together with the original line-up on their eighth studio album Mockingbird Time and they are in exceptional form. Established in Minneapolis’ burgeoning music scene in 1985 by co-founders Gary Louris and Mark Olson, The Jayhawks were adored by fans and lauded by critics, but never found the commercial success that their works merited. This struggle, coupled with Olson’s desire to make music with his then wife Victoria Williams, led Olson to leave the band in 1995 following the release of Tomorrow The Green Grass while Louris soldiered on with the other members. While Olson explored country, Louris’ Jayhawks explored pop, and these leanings can be heard in the finely crafted nuances of Mockingbird Time. Time has proven an ally for the group, with songwriting and performances that show The Jayhawks at the top of their game, turning out their classic sound in engaging ways; standout singles are the title track, “Tiny Arrows”, and “She Walks in So Many Ways.” Recently Louris said in an interview that the intention was to pick-up where Tomorrow the Green Grass left off and make an album for the fans. Well, they definitely hit the mark. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Byrds, Golden Smog, Gary Louris, The Old 97’s, Mark Olson, Whiskeytown